The protection of biodiversity does not only mean conservation. It is also a way to improve the national economy. Biodiversity will be incorporated into tourism, education and cultural events in a planned and systematic manner in order to boost the economy – The Election Manifesto of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa (Chapter 8, Page 64).This was the promise. It was heartening to know that there was someone at the top who understood the enormous economic potential there is in preserving Sri Lanka’s forests and its wildlife in pristine condition especially if the quality of the experience to a foreign visitor is high. They will then even be happy to pay more for such wildlife encounters, with the eternal memories they would give, and come back again and again to relive them.To read full story visit: http://www.ft.lk/columns/Killing-the-tourism-industry-The-death-knell-of-wildlife-tourism/4-714837?fbclid=IwAR05tA9pO0aL89sVyeMUV0GilJIZ2AHhyauVQ3U7yo2_STA1BVWtkZqNpOo